Adolf Hitler

11/07/2014

Josh Aarons

Recently Trevor was joined by filmmaker Philippe Mora to discuss the life of Adolf Hitler. Philippe Mora has made various films on the topic of Hitler and the Third Reich such as Swastika, Snide and Prejudice, German Sons, Double Headed Eagle, Continuity and The Gertrude Stein Mystery or Some Like it Art. These films explore either Adolf Hitler and his entourage or aspects of the Nazis and the Third Reich.

He has talked to people who knew Hitler (such as Albert Speer Hitler's Chief Architect) and relatives of those who knew him giving him a more unique insight into his life bringing a more personal dimension to the story. Philippe said that he was told by the sister in law of Nazi film maker Leni Riefenstahl (Triumph of the Will) who had met Hitler that there were two reactions to meeting him. 1. Completely in awe and overwhelmed by his presence. 2. Just not understanding what all the fuss was about or what people saw in him.

Philippe also touched upon the First World War and Hitler's role in it as well as its impact and influence on him. Hitler was fuelled by German Nationalistic ideas from a young age and these were only furthered by his time in the army. Hitler served as a message runner based several miles from the front. He was injured and sent to recover in Munich where he wanted to return to the war as he couldn't stand that his comrades were still on the battlefield. The war had a tremendous impact on Hitler, however it was the way the war ended that had the largest impact. Hitler was in stunned disbelief that Germany had surrendered as he (and many others in Germany) believed that they were on the path to victory. The demilitarisation, reparations and blame for the war on Germany declared in the Treaty of Versailles humiliated Germany and enraged Hitler, who became determined to return Germany to greatness.

During the political and economical turmoil of the early 1920's Hitler joined the German Workers Party (DAP) a radical right wing party with extreme views, later this party was renamed the National Socialist Workers Party (NSDAP) also known as the Nazi Party. It became apparent quite quickly that Hitler was a very effective public speaker and began making enflamed speeches (in which he criticised the current government and blamed Germany's loss in the war to a Jewish/Socialist conspiracy) throughout many beer halls in Munich. Hitler eventually worked his way up to the top of the NSDAP and grew more and more support, with very effective use of propaganda. Although eventually becoming the biggest party in Germany they were forced to form a coalition government. President Hindenburg under much political pressure appointed Hitler as Chancellor a position Hitler used to prevent rival parties and opponents from forming a majority government. After the fire at the Reichstag Hitler declared emergency protocols essentially removing people's rights and allowing arrest without trial, at this time Nazi paramilitary activity intimidated rival parties and spread anti-communist propaganda. Eventually Hitler achieved complete Legislative and Executive control of Germany, he then began closing down other political parties and seizing their assets, eventually leaving the NSDAP the only legal political party in Germany. When President Hindenburg died the office of president was dissolved and its powers merged with that of chancellor making Hitler head of state and government and formally named as Fuhrer.